APGA petitions CJN on Enugu CJ’s alleged interference

The United States chapter of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA-USA) has petitioned the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Aloma Mukhtar, to prevail on the Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice Azubike Umezulike, to hands off the case between Ichie Jude Okoli and Sir Victor Umeh, the party’s National ChairmaThe petition was also sent to the American Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

It urged the authorities to examine the position of the CJ on the matter. The party alleged that Umezulike might have used autocratic judicial acts in handling the matter.

In a 16-page document by Mr. Okwukwe Ibiam, the General Secretary of APGA-USA, the party called the attention of various authorities to the ex parte order and the interlocutory injunction by the CJ against APGA National Chairman.

The party noted that the action of the Chief Judge would disrupt the activities of the party.

“Chief Justice Innocent Azubike Umezulike refused to vacate the same interim order after its term lapsed on Tuesday, July 31. Justice Umezulike rather extended the same interim order on August 1, to September 16, when he said he would declare a ruling, after a hearing on an application from the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Sir Victor Umeh, to vacate same order,” Ibiam said.

The party noted that in his ruling on September 16, Justice Umezulike said his interim order would “endure”, because a “…reflection of these cases is of course demanded”.

APGA-USA expressed worry that the Chief Justice, on September 24, extended the ex parte order initiated on June 25 and withheld judgment pending the review of an application before the Federal Court of Appeal, Nigeria.

It added: “The judge, however, made a volte face and delivered judgment on October 8, in the same matter, without waiting for the ruling from the Federal High Court.”

The party noted that the actions contravene Rule 2 (2), and Rule 2 A (6) of the Code of Conduct for Judicial officers in Nigeria on the issuance and use of interim injunction, ex parte.

Rule 2 (2), states: “We, at the APGA, cannot but conclude that the use and grant of the ex parte motion and subsequently an interlocutory injunction was with bias”.

APGA-USA said an extension of the same order could entail gradual denial of justice.

It alleged that Justice Umezulike could have used the judicial process and legal procedures to slowly but surely choke the life out of the office of the party’s National Chairman.

“We ask you to use your good offices to bring this matter to closure as the business of political activity is the daily business of the people and requires daily attention, which the APGA constitution requires our National Chairman to daily supervise,” it added.